Got Mud?

Under the barbed wire...you can see the Biologist just entering the mud crawl...

Here is the Biologist crossing the balance beam over the water...which was just after climbing that big dirt hill behind...

After climbing a wall, then a sagging net to the top of the slide...I glided to the finish with a splash...

I have to get the photos from the balance beam over the water pit...I didn't get any of the rings....which I totally sucked at and definitely need to practice.

What I don't understand is how the guy behind me went down the slide at almost the same time as me but ended up way behind at the finish line.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*CRAWL IN THE MUD AND LOVE IT*

And the good news is.....

when our plane landed in San Fran on Friday night at 11:30 p.m.....I had two things on my mind...1. OMG!!...in 5 1/2 hours I will be getting up to run the Rugged Maniac....AND 2. I need to candle the duck eggs.

We were home in no time and hauling our stuff inside. After plugging in the candle-er and carefully took one egg from the incubator and I was surprised to see the egg was much fuller than Monday when I was so worried that the ducklings had died. I was so happy that I didn't bother to check another egg I just brushed my teeth and headed to bed.

I slept so hard I did not wake up until 5:15. It took a while to decide on what to wear...I didn't want to lose my pants climbing from the mud or water...but I didn't want to wear shorts and skin my knees....finally I decided on capri yoga pants and a shirt from the Rock N Roll San Jose half marathon...it's ugly and I didn't care if it got ruined :)

I filled jugs with water and got old towels to rinse and dry with. I got a blanket to sit on afterwards and packed the car. First stop was Safeway for a power bar and some Rock Stars and Red Bulls....I don't drink coffee and just recently had a Rock Star and realized why people drink coffee....the caffeine zap is almost too much for me!

The drive was about 45 minutes away but there was an accident on the freeway but we were able to get off and take surface streets to the fair grounds. We got an excellent parking space, checked in, used the restrooms and waited around until it was time to climb into the starting corral....YES, you had to climb a wall to get in!

Pre race picture

The first stretch was a run- the first obstacle was 4 walls and that sort of thinned the herd. I was very cautious on the obstacles. That is what enabled my daughter to stay close behind...she was faster on the obstacles and I was a faster runner...and I did cross the finish before her :)

There was mud...and mud...and mud....tunnels and hills of dirt, 25# bags of something to carry through a maze, walls to scale, nets to climb and pits to jump over. Unfortunately there wasn't fire- the fire marshal declined the permit...but there was a bubble machine that made a mountain of foamy bubbles to run through. I can't wait for the photos!

The event ended with a wall climb, that led to a net climb...that scared me at first because I thought I could fall through...but once I realized I wouldn't, I rolled to the bottom of the net, which was sagging, and then I climbed up to the top and there was a giant 45 degree water slide into a pool of water...and I quickly climbed out and crossed the finish.

Post race picture

3.1 miles, 25 obstacles, and I was the first woman in my wave to cross the finish. I was the first person in my age group to cross the line- male or femail...In fact the announcer said to my daughter, "you're the 2nd lady!" to which she exclaimed, "Ya, that was my mom!" 34:58 was my time...I can't wait to do it again! AND there is an award for the over 55 winner...I beat that man's time this year...but it is over 55...and I am only 55.

 *LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN A RUGGED MANIAC*

Copper

Two times in as many months the copper wire has been stolen from the school I work at...and before stealing it, the thieves turn off the power...so they don't electrocute themselves. In doing so, at 1:28 this morning, they not only stole copper wire, but they stole the joy from my 25 students who were incubating a dozen duck eggs.


When I opened my classroom at 6:35 this morning, the eggs were stone cold. I quickly called The Captain, who zoomed up to school, rescued the incubator, duck eggs and all and went home to plug them in. Soon he had the temperature up and the humidity correctly adjusted.


I texted a parent to have her Google duck egg care. She found some info but then called an emergency vet clinic and asked questions. She was told to candle the eggs and see if there was movement. But at 17 days along, I generally don't see movement. She was told there is a possibility they made have survived. So we will try. I candled the eggs tonight and discarded 2 eggs. One was fertile but never developed and the other had stopped developing early on...neither had to do with lack of warmth and humidity today. I will candle the eggs again this weekend and see if they have grown.


So sad that a few crack-heads looking for drug money cause $10,000 in damage to the school and ruin an experience for students. The kindergartners also had chick eggs in an incubator. What our school could have done with the $15,000 to repair the stolen copper wire two times is shameful!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*THINK DUCKLINGS* 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Every woman is a mom...it's your day...whether you have children, or you teach them, have pets or plants we all nurture in some way...so Happy Mother's Day to all my lady friends.


Today was an awesome day... I picked up The Captain from the airport last night...he was gone for 10 days...enough of watching whatever I wanted on TV, sleeping in the middle of the bed, leaving my clothes on the floor and dishes everywhere and eating when and whatever I wanted...it is nice to have him back :)


We slept in and I went to run the local 10K route....only I couldn't remember which street to turn on so I ended up running 3/10ths of a mile too little. Then The Captain and I went to get breakfast at our little dive bar...I had a wonderful omelet and a mimosa...and the dog ate what was left of my food because there was waaaaay too much. Then, my gift to myself for Mother's Day was a half hour session with a trainer at the club to work on my legs to improve my kick. I was charged for a half hour when I signed up, even though I was sure I was supposed to get 30 minutes free....so when I got there to day, the trainer said I shouldn't have been charged but she would offer me an hour's worth.....yay! SO for 1 hour she showed me a ton of leg exercises to do and had me do them. Then I worked out my upper body and showered. Then I stopped by my classroom to check on the duck eggs in the incubator- thankfully so as the humidity was too low- and also to feed the 4 silkworms who are very slow at forming cocoons....all the others spun weeks ago.


We walked the dog and now I am just chilling on the computer until a BBQ dinner. My sewing machine is warming up and I will end my wonderful Mother's Day doing one more thing I love to do.


I hope you had a wonderful day too!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*LOVE YOUR MOM*

25 Anniversary of National Bike to Work Day

And I have ridden for 15 of them....I think....that's the earliest date on the bike bag that they give away each year....that was stuffed in the back of my car now that the county I live in doesn't allow grocery stores (or any store,) to give out bags.

AND the highlight of the day was that my class WON the Walk/Ride to School contest with the most students NOT coming to school by car. We get to keep THE GOLDEN SNEAKER AWARD and everyone got a mini fold up Frisbee.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RIDE OR WALK TO WORK*

Teacher Appreciation Week

Our room parents got together decorated each teacher's door...with something that fits the teacher's personality....the doors are SOOOOO cute.

There are dogs for the dog lovers, sport equipment themes, coffee, flowers for kinder"garden" with photos of each child in the center of the flowers... and then there is mine:

and the little finish line flag....side two...

So far this week I have gotten handmade cards, chocolate candies and lots of little gifts...like those rubberband bracelets, bookmarks and notes. And today we had breakfast made by parents. It's a good week to be a teacher!

Tomorrow is National Ride Your Bike to Work Day! You can bet I will be riding the wrong way to work by 6 miles just to stop by and get my swag back for the 20th anniversary of Ride Your Bike to Work Day!!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RIDE YOUR BIKE TOMORROW*

...and yes, I remembered my towel for the club today :)

Monday....

Swim 1 mile
Treadmill- 1- 8:27 mile
Stairs 1 - 7 minute mile
Bike  5 miles
Weights
Shower- NO TOWEL- Priceless drying off with two mini hand towels for wiping up sweat.
HAPPY MONDAY :)

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*I WON'T DO THAT AGAIN*